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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2001)
MONDAYSEPTEMBER 3, 2001 1 SECTION • 12 PAGES NEWS IN BRIEF gpryan to purchase, auction LaSalle Blhe city of Bryan is pre- p, red to purchase the KSalle Hotel at a foreclosure ai tion Tuesday. ■According to The Bryan- C allege Station Eagle, the BSalle will be auctioned off b( c ause the owner defaulted oi a $1.7 million loan from Irst National Bank. ■ Bryan Commerce and ■evelopment will operate the ■>tel until the city can sell th building. The city will pro- Bde a loan for Bryan Bommeree and Development tk t has not stated the Bnount of the loan. ■ Bidding will begin at $1.15 Billion. fetter carrier fired in mail dumping ■ AMARILLO (AP) - A letter ■rrier has been fired after Amarillo police discovered undelivered mail in a street ■ash bin. a U S. postal offi cial said. ■ Amarillo police were called ■ the scene Wednesday after a witness saw someone dumping mail into the bin, ■pi. Jerry Neufeld said. I Police booked the mail into evidence before contacting ■ostal inspectors. ■ The carrier's job was ter minated as a result of an investigation. ■ He did disclose the man vi|ds a iempotcuy ttuipioyei and a recent hire. 1 PUBLIC EYE JMj Total attendance at Saturday’s game against McNeese State 70,656 Living healthy • Programs available on campus to inform students about staying in shape Page 7 Crew ' salvages opener • Defense gave offense time to recover, win, 38-24 OPINION Page 11 Fish vs. Farmers • Environmentalists are placing animals before humans Wl A Mil U HIGH 95° LOW 7§ e f HIGH 92° F LOW FORECASTS COURTESY OF www.weathermanted.com Texas A&M University — Celebrating 125 Years College Station, Texas Volume 108 • Issue 7 www.thebatt.com Rowan decision expected tonight .By Rolando Garcia THE BATTALION The fate of Memorial Student Center (MSC) President Josh Rowan’s position w as decided Sunday night at a meeting of the MSC executive committee, although the committee’s recommendation will not be made public, and Rowan will be informed of the decision tonight. If the committee recommends Rowan's removal as MSC president, the matter will go before the MSC Council Monday. Otherwise, the case is closed. Dr. Bill Kibler, associate vice presi dent for student affairs, investigated alle gations of misconduct by Rowan, a senior agricultural development major, on a University-sponsored trip to Italy this summer and reported his findings to MSC Director James Reynolds last week. A special committee headed by Kate Petree; MSC executive vice president for human resources and a senior mete orology major, held a closed meeting Thursday to review Kibler’s report and question Rowan about allegations of alcohol abuse, drug use and inappropri ate sexual advances during the two- week Champe Fitzhugh Jr. International Honors Leadership Seminar, an MSC- affiliated program. Rowan said he was questioned by the committee for two hours. He denied the most serious allegations but acknowl edged some irresponsible behavior. “The drug allegation is totally untrue,” Rowan said. “The allegations of inappro priate sexual advances are not true. I’ll admit, that on two occasions, 1 had too much to drink.” Rowan also said he suggested to the committee that a reprimand would be the I most appropriate response and offered to reimburse the MSC for his cost of the Fitzhugh trip and to speak to freshmen See Rowan on page 5. McNeese Second-half comeback led by A&M defense By True Brown THE BATTALION What the Texas A&M offense gave away, the Wrecking Crew regained. In a night that saw the Aggies have both a fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown, it was the defense that proved to be A&M’s steadying hand. The Wrecking Crew came up with all the key plays A&M would need to squeak away with a nail-biting, come-from- behind, 38-24 win over McNeese State Saturday night. “This showed our guys what they are capable of doing,” said A&M football head coach R.C. Slocum. On the opening drive of the game, A&M looked to be in control, driving 58 yards to the McNeese 25-yard line in just six plays. Freshman running back Keith Joseph looked impressive in his debut drive, carrying three times for 26 yards. Then on a 3rd-and-8 from the Cowboy 25-yard line, junior quarter- hack Mark Farris was hit by McNeese’s Ryan Garrison and tumbled. Linebacker Brad Archie recovered the fumble for the Cowboys and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and an unexpected advantage. It was the first of four A&M fumbles, although the Aggies recovered the other three. The point after touchdown (PAT) failed, but the Cowboys gained an early 6-0 lead. It would get worse before it got better for the Aggies. See McNeese on page 7. PHOTOS BY STUART VILLANUEVA • THE BATTALION Top: Texas A&M wide receiver Terrence Murphy outjumps two McNeese State defenders to pull down a 38-yard reception in the second quarter. The catch set up the Aggies' first touchdown, and A&M went on to win, 38-24. Above: Larry Smith, a member of the McNeese State Cowboy Club, reads the names of the victims of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse in front of the Academic Building Saturday. The Cowboy Club, a booster club for McNeese State University, presented A&M with a memorial wreath on behalf of the McNeese State campus and alumni. McNeese honors victims with wreath By Emily Hendrickson THE BATTALION Administrators and supporters of Texas A&M and McNeese State Universities gathered in front of the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue Saturday as the McNeese Cowboy Club laid a wreath of flowers in honor of the victims of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse. Larry Smith, director of the McNeese club, presented the wreath and called for a moment of silence as he read the names of the Bonfire collapse victims. Smith said he made plans to lay the wreath when the Cowboy Club realized last year that McNeese would play A&M. “I decided that we had to do something for A&M,” he said. The wreath was made of flowers with the MSU school colors. yellow and blue, but the flowers also represent Texas. “We decided on yellow roses, to represent the Yellow Rose of Texas, and bluebonnets for the state flower,” Smith said. Smith is also chairman of the flower fund for deceased Cowboy Club members, and wanted to extend that tradition at A&M. “We got a super response from A&M about laying the wreath,” Smith said. “After deciding to lay the wreath, it was only a matter of where to put it. In the end, Sul Ross seemed the best place for it.” Students and family members of the victims were present at the ceremony. “It’s a nice gesture of McNeese,” said Janice Kerlee, mother of Bonfire victim Timothy Kerlee Jr. Cynthia Lawson, executive See Wreath on page 2. GLBTA hosts, welcomes Aggies with Q-Camp By Melissa Sullivan THE BATTALION Incoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans- gendered Aggies had the opportunity to get acquainted at Q-Camp, held Aug. 23 in the Memorial Student Center. “This gave incoming freshman the chance to see what is available to them and give sup port for those who do not know any other options, and just let them know that there are always different people to help," said Justin Anderson, president of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies (GLBTA) and a senior psychology major. “Also, we like to welcome students who don’t feel welcome and let them know they are are not alone. We hope they take the information they gain and use it to their advantage to meet new friends.’ The two-hour camp consisted of activities in which members learned more about each other and different departments on campus. The campers also received folders containing information on various student groups, churches, offices and services throughout Bryan-College Station. “We did ice breakers and had everyone talk about themselves,” Anderson said. “We also had different departments talk about how they could help out, as well as watch a See Q-CAMP on page 2. UPD cracks down Tickets issued for trespassers on railroad property By Amanda Smith THE BATTALION Students who are found tres passing on railroad property or in the designated construction zones on West Campus will be fined, according to University PoIk'** Department (UPD) officials. Bob Wiatt, UPD director, said the Texas A&M community has become concerned for stu dents’ safety. “There is a big concern among all of us for students’ safety,” Wiatt said. “Students must begin using designated areas to cross, meaning the crosswalks. Violators will be prosecuted.” Fines for crossing into con struction areas range from $350 to $450, and violators also are subject to arrest for trespassing, Wiatt said. Trespassing on railroad prop erty is punishable by a fine of up to $110. Crosswalk violations are punishable by fine of up to $65 per violation. Wiatt said some students have been trying to cross Wellborn Road in front of oncoming cars. “The students have to remem ber to punch the crosswalk but tons for traffic lights, to stop on Wellborn,” he said. “We have had students running across,-try ing to beat oncoming cars.” UPD has been deploying offi cers to patrol the intersections in and around the construction area, including intersection of Old Main and Wellborn Road. Sgt. Betty Lemay, a member of the UPD crime prevention team, said students need to remain aware of the construction. “It is a safety concern,” Lemay said. “Our students are certainly intelligent enough to handle the situation.” In a letter posted on the Parking, Traffic and Transportation Services (PTTS) Website, officials said altering Parking Area (PA) 61 to include resident parking has prompted some'students to try alternative, more dangerous routes. “In monitoring these zones along Wellborn Road, officers have noticed students ignoring the safety barrier provided by fencing the area,” officials said. “PTTS officials urge students who must cross Wellborn Road to travel to and from West Campus to respect the barriers around con struction r^reas by not climbing over or. under the fencing.” For more information on parking or construction areas on campus, call 862-PARK.